Gender Group October 02, 2012

To develop sensitivity in perceiving

existing gender issues and inequalities; To recognize the differing situations and needs of women and men and consider them in every action or decision they make; To deepen our understanding and become responsive

 Identify and list attributes/

characteristics associated with MEN and WOMEN. You may write on each a physical or an emotional characteristic, profession, or object that people usually associate with women or men. 1 METACARD = 1 ATTRIBUTE Post it!

1. Why did you classify the characteristic under

WOMEN/MEN? 2. What do classifications assume about the capacities of women and/or men? 3. What are your basis in writing these attributes?

1. Why do we classify certain professions,

characteristics, or capacities as belonging to, or possessed by, only women, only men, or both? 2. What are our bases for these classifications? 3. Are these classifications valid? Where and how do we get these standards? 4. Why is it important to assess ourselves and see where we stand on these issues?

 Gender sensitivity is the ability to recognize

gender issues. It calls for an understanding and consideration of the sociocultural factors underlying discrimination based on sex (whether against women or men!).

SEX
Biological similarities and differences between and among women and men.
Sex is biological male, female, also intersex (reproductive differences based on genitalia, chromosomes, hormones) SEX is largely unchangeable.

 GENDER
The culturally learned differences

between males and females.

In gender situation analysis,

GENDER refers to the expectations and learned behavior associated with the two sexes.

GENDER
an acquired identity where in it

can be changed, as culture itself is dynamic.

In gender situation analysis, GENDER

refers to the expectations and learned behavior associated with the two sexes.

Refers to SOCIALLY constructed

roles and characteristics assigned to Men and Women on the basis of prevailing culture

PURELY SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS

and CULTURALLY LEARNED ACTIVITIES and TRAITS

Male / Female BIRTH

Masculine/ Feminine -

SOCIALIZATION

SEX-GENDER SYSTEM
-A lot of cultures tend to see gender as a natural phenomenon deriving from biological differences between women and men.
-The understandings of masculine or feminine differ across culture or geographic locations.

 refer to an occupation or

biological function for which a necessary qualification is to belong to one particular sex category. For example, pregnancy is a female sex role because only members of the female sex may bear children.

 Gender roles are roles that are usually

classified by sex, where this classification is social, and not biological.

Society expects men and women to

play specific gender roles Behavior patterns, obligations and privileges considered appropriate for each SEX

MEN tasked with production of goods and services (necessity for SURVIVAL)

WOMEN responsible for reproduction of the species (childbearing/child rearing, maintenance of the family)

 These SOCIALLY CONSTRUCTED

premises serve as basis for the UNEQUAL social status of the sexes. Gender Roles on the other hand, reflect and reinforce such inequality.

SEX
1.Biologically determined 2. Inherent 3. Differences between MEN/WOMEN are UNIVERSAL.

GENDER
1. Socially ascribed roles/traits 2. Social differences are LEARNED, changeable over time 3. Determined by culture

 Gender Stereotypes - An over-

generalized belief in the characteristics of a person based simply on their gender. It is a rigidly held and oversimplified belief that all males and females possess distinct psychological and behavioral traits.

GENDER IDEOLOGY determines: A. What is expected of us B. What is allowed of us C. What is valued in us

The biological differences between men and women automatically translate into differences in their social roles.

 GENDER limits the potential of both

men and women, making them both victims.

 Women are perceived to be weaker and more

emotional than men. The types of work opportunities that are opened to women correspond to this particular perception of womens capacities. This limits womens opportunities, pushing them towards positions such as domestic or secretarial work, instead of managerial positions where intellect is valued over emotion. This leads to gender discrimination and subordination.

 Differential treatment of individuals on the basis

of their gender. In many societies, this involves systemic and structural discrimination against women in the distribution of income, access to resources, and participation in decision -making (access to opportunities). It is the prejudicial treatment of a person on the basis of a gender stereotype.

 Describes the secondary position that

women occupy in society in relation to men.

 Gender roles in the Philippines are found in

many different places; for instance, school systems, dating, marriage, and especially their families. Gender differences play a key part on what they are suppose to do as an individual of that sex and what they are not supposed to do. In a matter of speaking each gender has a set of social norms they follow.

Males

Females

They get more respect They take less More confident, dominating roles accomplished, and well rounded individuals.

sexual activity among plants and animals Used in relation to love and sex matters in European discourse in the 1830s What does it mean according to the dictionary? Depends on which dictionary you read Macquarie (1981): The definition or recognising of sexual matters

Usually meant reproduction through

Is how one perceive oneself : Heterosexual- Individuals sexually attracted towards member of opposite sex Homosexual- Individuals sexually interested in members of same sex Bisexual- Individuals sexually interested in members of both sex

 Three intertwining strands of sexuality: Sexual desire or attraction To whom (or in some cases what) someone is attracted (physically and emotionally) Sexual activity or behaviour What a person does or likes to do sexually (intercourse, masturbation, oral sex, sexual fetishes) Sexual identity How someone describes their sense of self as a sexual being (e.g. heterosexual, bisexual, lesbian, gay, homosexual) No clear boundaries!
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 Are these images of sex, sexuality or gender? What would we need to know in order to make sense of this question?
(5 mins + 10 mins feedback)
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